Crispi and the Pope’s Temporal Power
SIGNOR CRISPI evidently does not sympathize with the pope in his loss of temporal power and assumed imprisonment. In an address delivered at Palermo recently the Prime Minister said that the temporal power of the pope had been only a transition period, and that Rome, which existed before it, would continue to exist without it. He declared that the restrictions placed on the pope in Italy were less harsh than in other Catholic States, and only such as are necessary to prevent him from encroaching on national right. Archbishop Logue, the Catholic Primate of Ireland, says that if the pope departs from Rome grass will soon grow in its streets. However, a leading religious paper thinks that “the history of the past few years indicates that the prosperity of the country increases with the decline of the pope’s influence and authority.” This may be true, and probably is, but if the pope were to leave Rome it is not at all unlikely that it would lead to a demand on Italy for a restoration of his ancient privileges. Not a few of the effete monarchies of Europe still tremble before the power of the papacy.